AFL skippers tip St Kilda to rise in 2017

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: The captains walk towards the press conference during the AFL Captains Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)

St Kilda and Melbourne have been widely tipped as the big improvers in 2017, but asked to decide between them, the 18 AFL captains believe the Saints are better placed for September football this year.

The results of the annual pre-season captains' survey have been released with 11 captains nominating St Kilda as finalists this year compared to six for Melbourne.

The Saints finished ninth last season with 12 wins, while Melbourne finished 10th with 10 wins.

Sydney was the only club unanimously selected to play finals in 2017, while crosstown Greater Western Sydney was the clear premiership favourite.

The captains were asked which seven other teams, apart from their own, could make the finals and which other club, apart from their own, could make the Grand Final.

All up, 11 different clubs were listed as potential finalists, while just four were tipped to make the Grand Final. Interestingly, two captains believed 2016 premiers Western Bulldogs will miss the finals.

Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield was the choice of five captains to go back-to-back in the Brownlow Medal, while Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Dan Hannebery (Sydney) and Dustin Martin (Richmond) each polled two votes.

Gold Coast spearhead Tom Lynch and Swans star Lance Franklin each received six votes as the likely Coleman medallist, ahead of 2016 winner Josh Kennedy, with four votes.

Last year's No.1 draft pick, Essendon's Andrew McGrath, led the predictions to win the NAB AFL Rising Star with four votes, ahead of Tim Taranto from GWS and Port Adelaide's Sam Powell-Pepper who both received three votes.

The captains pose for a group shot on the MCG on Tuesday. Picture: AFL Photos